cleland



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. CLELAND, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOv THE SPECIALTY 7 COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR COPYING MANUSCRIPTS, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,586, dated April 24,1894.

Application filed December 1,1893. Serial No. 492,420- (No model.)

To all whomit may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. CLELAND, of Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Copying Manuscripts, &;c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide cheap, simple, easily operated and effective means for taking copies of manuscripts and the like, and it is embodied in the structure hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification an ordinary letter press copying book is shown at 6, a letter sheet in process of copying is shown at 5, and a neat and convenient form of the copying device is indicated by characters 1, 2, 3 and 4. The presser blade 1 is preferably concavo-convex in cross section, it is provided with a handle as 2, and its lower edge forms a straight, narrow bearing inclined slightly upward in front, or in the direction of its operative motion.

At 3 are seen lugs formed on, or secured to, the presser-blade, and a rod as 4 rests in the lugs some little distance from the face, or adjacent surface, of the presser blade.

In taking a copy of a letter, or other writing, printing or drawing, the copying sheet is moistened in the customary, or any desirable, manner, and laid on a sheet of impervious substance; the letter sheet is placed between the rod 4 and the presser blade, and one end thereof is placed in contact with the copying paper and beneath the presser, the presser blade is pressed downward with some force onto the end of the letter sheet, and is moved slidingly along the sheet while the downward pressure is maintained, that part of the letter sheet in advance of the presser being meanwhile held from contact with the copying paper by means of the rod 4. The pressure is concentrated on a small surface of the quired, the presser slides freely on the paper,

letter sheet, so that but slight exertion is re giving equal pressure to all parts of the surface, and the sheet is not permitted to become moistened, and so develop a possibility of stretching, with a consequent blurring tendency,- until it is fed under the presser.

By the use of the device, in the manner described, a copy may be quickly and easily made, and the device itself is cheap and convenient to use, and it occupies but little space.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters presser blade concavo-convex in cross section,

and a handle secured to the blade.

5. A copying device comprising a presser, and a support on the presser adapted to hold that part of the letter sheet in advance of the presser out of contact with the copying sheet.

In testimony whereof I sign my name inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. CLELAND.

Attest:

THOS. A. BONE, L. P. GRAHAM. 

